'lj. .35 .60 .80 .40 .60 .25 ... ~ . Tpe .Bruce PublishIng Cp., 524-544 ~. M.ilwaukeeSt;;,KliIw~~ke~, W~. Editor OTTO A. SINGENBERGER Professor of Gregorian Chant St. Mary of the Lake Seminary Mundelein, tllinois Manager WM. ARTHUR REILLY Chairman Boston School Committee Con~ributors LUDWIG BONVIN S.J. Buffalo, N. Y. GREGORY HUGLE, O.S.B. Conception Abbey Conception, Mo. JUSTIN FIELD, O.P. Diocesan Director of Church Music Alexandria, Onto SR. M. CHERUBIM O.S.F. Milwaukee, Wise. SR. M. GISELA, S.S.N.D. Milwaukee, Wisc. Founded A.D. 1874 by JOHN SINGENBERGER REMY ZADRA, D.D. Published by McLAUGHLIN & REILLY CO., 100 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. Jamestown, N. Y. M. MAURO-COTTONE Entered as second class matter. Oct. 20, 1931, at the post office at Boston, New York City Mass., under the act of March 3. 1879. Published monthly, except in July. Terms: Subscription price $2.00 per year. Canada and foreign countries PAUL C. TONNER Collegeville, Ind. $3.00 Payable in advance. Single copies 30 cents. Vol. 60 AUGUST 1933 No.8 irbiratinu TO 'THE VERY REVEREND GR.EGORY HUGLE O.S.B. Prior of Conception Abbey, Missouri. Contributor to the Church Music journals of America and many foreign countries, during the pa'stfifty years. Authority on Gregorian Chant. Humble and Beloved Priest. This issue is Respectfully Dedicated. 226 The Caecilia EDITORIAL Two years ago we began the policy of ded­ BIOGRAPHY icating the summer issue of CAECILIA to DOM GREGORY HU·GLE O.S.B. some living ...J\merican Catholic Church Mu­ sician of note, whose deeds and contributions Dom Gregory Hiigle was born in Lellwanr had won wide recognition in church music gen, in the archduchy of Baden, Germany, circles throughout this country and foreign September la, 1866. At the age of twelve nations. he was sent to the collejge of the Cistercian To memorialize our leading church mu­ Fathers ('(White Benedictines") at Mehrerau, sicians is an ambition of this paper, so that near Br~genz (anciernt Brigantium)) at the the works of Catholic church musicians may upper end of the Lake of Constance. Two be taken into consideration when the musical resources of our country are estimated. The years later he went to the ((Black Benedic­ great church composers of England, Germany, tines" at Engelberg Abbey) Switzerland, where France and Italy are kno\\rn the world over. he completed his junior college curriculum. There has never before been any attempt to Having devoted a good deal of time to the focus the attention of musicians on the work study of piano and violin, he became assistant being 'done by our American colleagues. organist in 1883. In 1885 he followed the In 193 I the dedication was to Rev. Ludwig invitation of Abbot Frowin Conrad and came Bonvin S.]., and the record of compositions , to the newly founded Abbey of Conception and literary presentations summarized in that in the northwest corner of Missouri. At his issue amazed even our Catholic musicians, religious profession in 1886 he received the many of ,vhom had never realized the extent of Father Bonvin's work, and his broad con­ name Gregory in addition to his baptismal stant influence on matters liturgical. name Raymond. Having finished his higher studies, he was ordained priest in 1890 by the In 1932, the issue was dedicated to James A. Reilly. This dedication was made with pioneer Bishop John Joseph Hogan. some hesitancy lest it be feared that the CAE­ CILIA in its purpose was really for the ag­ grandizement of its' owners. However, Dr. Reilly's accomplishments when summarized were received most favorably, and none could deny the extent of his influence in this coun­ try during the past 25 years. So we proceed for the establishment of an American "all-time" memorial to our leading Catholic church m.usicians .... and nomina­ tions are in order for next year's dedication. Shall it be Montani, Manzetti, Yon, Father Finn, or some other leader now active in this field? Think of the records that might be avail­ able today had this policy been in force during the past 25 years. Certainly better known would be the works of ] ohn Singenbe~ger, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry Tappert, and the others whose works were presented without profit to themselves, for the improvement of church music in this country, in those days DOM GREGORY and in the future generations. As HE LOOKS TODAY IN HIS 68TH YEAR "We .recommend THE CAECILIA to our clergy and our sisterhood" - Cardiaal Mundelein. The Caecilia 227 CHANT WORK tested out in simple problems. uA minimum of 1"ules with plenty of drill" was the policy. Without being aware of the fact, Father The historical, liturgical, and ascetical aspects Gregory served a twelve-year apprenticeship were given preference over intricate problems under the management of a saintly confrere. of rhythm. Wherever possible, the more elab­ When Father Lukas Etlin was placed in orate problems were taken up in a second charge of the Convent near Clyde (two miles course. F or the busy teachers, editions in from Conception Abbey), he insisted that the modern notation were advocated, thus elim­ Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration de­ inating the big task of transcribing the mel­ vote themselves principally to the study of odies from the ancient into modern notation. Gregorian Chant. With the year 1892 a reg­ The characteristics of the eight modes and the ular course of instruction in singing and har­ peculiar field assigned to the authentic and monization began. With the keen intuition of plagal mod~s was graphically demonstrated by an artist Father Lukas combined a remark­ means of lines and circles. Particular stress able sense for prayerful rhythm. Without was laid on the grasping of free rhythm as de­ having read the writings of the Solesmes manded by the very idea of liturgical prayer, Fathers, he used almost their very words: and as thwarted by the machinelike move­ "Chant is prayer and prayer only; it is de­ ment of measured music. pendent on prayer for life -and beauty; unless ONE OF HIS POINTS was the assertion 'we consider it from this angle, we shall fail that beauty of voice is not a necessary re­ to understand it." What Father Lukas has quirement, nay sometimes a positive hin­ accomplished in furthering the devotion to the drance, in matters connected with the sacred Blessed Sacrament, the 29 volumes of "Taber­ chant. A peculiar experience came handy for nacle and Purgatory", and the Eucharistic an illustration. A zealous pastor had insisted Shrines erected at Clyde, Mo. and Mundelein, that som,e chant rehearsals be held with his Ill. proclaim to the worid at large. choir. '[he singers ranged in age from 16 to Ever since then Dom Gregory has been oc­ 75 years. It was a risky enterprise. The dif­ cupied with monastic duties and work at Con­ ferences in years and voice, however, were ception College. While different offices changed not the principal obstacle. A young lady, pos­ (for the last I8 years he has held the' office .of sessed of a big voice and of a graduate di­ Prior), his task as music director and organIst plom,a, put the spokes into the wheels of the continued. So it came to pass that, when the rhythm; her voice with the official tremolo .i\1otu Proprio of Pius X appeared in 1903, he "knocked"the rhythm each time; so either was called upon hy many to lend a helping the director or the big voice had to yield. hand. During the summer months chant 1'here Was nothin,g left but to insist on an ab­ courses were held for confreres, directors, or­ solute "pianissimo)), a so-called "Bumblebee­ ganists and singers. All this work was done on hum)). When the stout lady realized that she a small scale and for a short period of time had to give in, she gave an awful look to the only. Before long, larger classes, in centrally rude director, and turning sideways, trans­ located places, had to be held for approximate­ formed herself into an ideal pouting statue. ly two 'weeks each. The battle was won, smooth rhythm secured, and the whole choir breathed. a sigh of relief. OUTLINE OF COURSES GIVEN The lesson from this story was readily grasped: that Gregorian Chant is a training In almost every instance his courses began school in humble submission and in willing­ with the study of the Latin word and its com­ ness "to go under)) for the sake of the en­ ponent parts, the vowels and consonants. semble. Then followed the separation of syllables with ANOTHER FEATURE was the assertion the particular observation which way ~he that the singing in Church must be impersonal. consonants have to be thrown. For practIcal The seeming harshness of the assertion as­ drill the Kyrie and Gloria were at once re­ sumed a different aspect when it was stated sorted to. The musical recitation of words, that the singer lends his voice to holy Mother phrases, clauses, and entire sentences with Church to proclaim the glories of her heaven­ due regard to the word accent w'as then taken ly Bridegroom, and that the singers enjoy a up. Thus the field of syllabic chants was mas~ quasi-priestly office, since he carries on his teredo In due time the counterplay of melody voice divine ,vords to the hearts of the faithful WaS demonstrated; the relation existing be­ to prepare them for the reception of divine tween melodic ictus and word accent Was gifts. "We recommend THE CAECILIA to our clerg,r and our sisterhood" - Cardinal Mundelein.